Ocean, nature, critters, and recreation

May 16, 2011

Tony Hawk turns 43, shows he can still nail a 900

The legendary Tony Hawk is best known for becoming the first skateboarder to stick a 900 during a competition--a trick so difficult that it required 11 attempts during the 1999 X Games, for an athlete who had seen the trick play out in his mind for 10 years.

The trick, which entails 2 1/2 rotations above the vert ramp wall, inspired future generations of skateboarders and other action sports athletes to persevere and progress their sports to astonishing new levels.

Hawk, meanwhile, remains an inspiration. Over the weekend, during a demo tour in Sweden, he nailed another 900, and the big deal this time is that he is now the oldest person to have performed the trick. "I'm 43 and I did a 900 today in Linkoping, Sweden," he tweeted. "Yes, I still skate as much as ever." Here's the proof: